Winter Olympics 2026: France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron capture ice dance gold medal
What a difference a year has made for France’s ice dance team. In a thrilling finale at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron secured the gold medal, marking a remarkable journey for the duo. With a total score of 225.82, they narrowly edged out American competitors Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who finished with 224.39. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier also made a statement, clinching bronze with a score of 217.74.
This triumph marks Cizeron’s second Olympic gold, following his historic win at Beijing 2022 with former partner Gabriella Papadakis. He is now the first ice dancer to achieve this feat with two different partners, showcasing the endurance and versatility that defines elite figure skating. The last ice dancer to win consecutive Olympic golds was the duo of Oksana Grishuk and Evgeny Platov, who accomplished the feat in the 1990s.
The French skaters came into the Wednesday competition with a minuscule lead of just 0.46 points, creating an exhilarating buildup. Their performance to the haunting score from the motion picture The Whale emphasized their unique style, earning them high marks across all their technical elements.
Chock and Bates, who have been partners for over a decade, delivered a commendable performance. This marks their first podium finish at the Olympics, a significant achievement following a string of prior competitions where they placed eighth in Sochi 2014, ninth in PyeongChang 2018, and fourth in Beijing 2022.
Alongside the thrilling performances from the medal winners, Gilles and Poirier stood out, marking their best Olympic result to date, having previously finished in the lower half of the standings.
The ice dance competition provided thrilling entertainment, showcasing not just talent but exemplary sportsmanship and dedication. As Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry going forward, their iconic performances will set the benchmark in professional figure skating for years to come.
Stay tuned as more highlights emerge from the Milano Cortina 2026 Games!
